A Swashbuckler is a term that came about in the 16th century and was applied to "rough, noisy, boastful swordsman". To swash is to "swagger and swing about, making a lot of noise" and a buckler is "a shield". The stock character Miles Glorioso is a swashbuckler.

Many films, even ones made today, still show swashbuckling, such as The Count Of Monte Cristo , Pirates Of The Caribbean, and Mask of Zorro .

This showiness is particularly appropriate as regards stage fighting, which has more in common with the art of fencing, where the idea is to go through the motions of fighting without the sword touching the body, while real swordfighting aims at bodily harm.